Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinch maiden IPL title

Final six balls, need 29 for win. Can Shashank pull off a miracle. First two balls will tell the tale.

It’s getting difficult for Punjab, who have lost seven wickets and need another 42 from two overs. Need a blinder from Shashank

It’s all over for Punjab after losing two wickets in the 17th over. Wadhera went for the big shots against the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar and paid the price. Marcus Stoinis, who had one final chance to redeem a poor season — just 154 runs from 12 matches — hit a six but was dismissed the very next ball, capping a miserable campaign. After 17 overs, Punjab are 144/6.

Shashank and Wadhera are pulling Punjab back into the contest. Two overs have yielded 30 runs, bringing the chase back to life. After 16 overs, Punjab are 136/4.

Finally, Shepherd’s over gave Punjab an opening as Wadhera and Shashank scored 13 runs off the 15th over. Punjab are 119/4, needing another 72 from 30 balls.

Punjab are digging themselves into a deeper hole, managing just five runs off the 14th over. RCB have Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, and Suyash Sharma to bowl, and all have been in good touch this time. Did Punjab miss a trick by not sending Marcus Stoinis up the order? The required run-rate is climbing to 14 runs an over. Punjab are 106/4.

Punjab face an uphill task. With two uncapped players at the crease chasing a target and the required run-rate hovering around 13 runs an over, it looks almost impossible unless someone plays a stunning knock. The wicket is holding up, making scoring difficult. After 13 overs, Punjab are 101/4, needing 90 off 7 overs.

The first ball of the 13th over may have virtually ended Punjab’s hopes. Josh Inglis tried to take on Krunal Pandya, but Liam Livingstone pulled off a stunning catch on the long-on fence to push the Kings deeper into trouble. After 12.1 overs, Punjab are 98/4.

Krunal Pandya has applied the brakes again, conceding just seven runs from his third over. The pitch is showing signs of holding up, and with the ball getting older, shot-making is becoming increasingly difficult. The required run rate is now hovering around 12 an over. After 11 overs, Punjab are 88/3. RCB were 97/3 at the same stage, but the added pressure of the chase makes Punjab’s task tougher.

Romario Shepherd may have dropped a catch earlier, but he’s made up for it in a big way—removing the dangerous Shreyas Iyer for just 1. It’s a massive blow that pushes Punjab into trouble. The skipper has been central to their wins this season, and his early exit shifts the pressure squarely onto Josh Inglis. He’ll need to anchor the chase if Punjab are to stay in the hunt. After 10 overs, Punjab are 80/3.

Krunal Pandya, the shrewd thinker of the game, slowed things down just enough to tempt the Punjab batters—and Prabhsimran took the bait. Looking for a big heave, he mistimed it and sent a top-edge straight to Bhuvneshwar Kumar at point. A moment of redemption for Romario Shepherd, who had dropped the batter on nine. Prabhsimran departs for 26. Shreyas Iyer walks in, and this partnership will be key for Punjab. Just four runs came off the ninth over. Punjab are 74/2, compared to RCB’s 87/2 at the same stage.

RCB bowlers have not taken a leaf out of Punjab's playbook—especially from Impact Sub Suyash Sharma. Instead of taking the pace off, the young spinner has been firing it in, allowing Prabhsimran and Inglis to play through the line with ease. Still, there’s little to separate the two sides. Punjab are 70/1 after 8 overs, having scored 14 in the latest over, while RCB were 69/2 at the same stage.

Punjab batters are going into a shell — much like Kohli and co. earlier in the evening. The introduction of spinner Krunal Pandya has done the trick, with just three runs coming off the seventh over. Punjab are stuttering at 55/1.

After conceding 23 runs in the first two overs, RCB’s bowlers have pulled things back with disciplined lines and lengths. Punjab reach 52/1 at the end of the Powerplay — nearly identical to RCB’s 55/1 at the same stage. Game on.

A stunning relay catch by Phil Salt off the final ball of the fifth over has given RCB their much-needed breakthrough. Arya’s inexperience showed — after taking 10 off Hazlewood in the over, the left-hander went for one shot too many and picked out Salt, who completed a sharp grab. Could this be the turning point RCB were waiting for? After 5 overs, Punjab are 43/1.

RCB have clawed back some control, conceding just 9 runs in the last two overs. The next phase could shape the chase, but credit to the Punjab openers — they’re showing patience and avoiding the early recklessness that cost them in the previous match. After 4 overs, Punjab are 32/0.

Patidar has deployed his trump card Hazlewood early — and it nearly paid off. The introduction of spin brought some control, but Shepherd’s drop of a sharp chance let Punjab off the hook. It could’ve shifted momentum. Instead, Prabhsimran and Priyansh continue unscathed. After 3 overs, Punjab are 28/0.

This surface rewards pace — and RCB might be overdoing it. In their eagerness for early breakthroughs, the bowlers have offered too much pace and width, making life easier for the Punjab openers. Prabhsimran and Priyansh are growing in confidence as the runs keep flowing. After 2 overs, Punjab are 23/0.

Punjab are off to a dream start in the chase, cashing in on a wayward first over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The veteran pacer missed his lines, and openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya didn’t miss out — hammering 13 off the opening over. Early pressure on RCB.

Punjab Kings couldn’t have asked for a better performance in the first innings of the IPL final. From ball one, their bowlers stuck to their plans — mixing slow bouncers and pinpoint yorkers to strangle RCB’s power-packed line-up.

Virat Kohli’s patient knock was the top score of the innings, but just when Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone threatened to take RCB close to 200, Arshdeep Singh delivered a superb final over, picking up three wickets and halting the charge at 190/9.

It might be a touch under-par on this surface — but if RCB can strike early, this final is far from over. The packed house is in for a thrilling contest. If Punjab manage to overhaul the target, it will be second-highest chase in the history of IPL after KKR overhauled 200 in 2014 final.

RCB will be breathing a little easier as Romario Shepherd finally finds his range. The West Indian powerhouse, known for his brutal hitting, has started to connect — and Punjab are feeling the heat. With one over to go, RCB move to 187/6 after 19, and a 200-plus total is back on the cards.

Punjab strike again as Jitesh falls

Just as RCB looked to rebuild, Punjab snatched back control. Jitesh Sharma’s lively cameo — 24 off 10 — ended with an inside edge brushing the stumps, yet another wicket at the right time for Punjab. Their bowlers have been relentless, breaking partnerships before they take off. With the ball gripping off the surface, Romario Shepherd now carries the load. After 18 overs, RCB are 173/6.

Jitesh Sharma’s arrival has flipped the script — bringing runs for RCB, cheers from the fans, and panic in the Punjab camp. The plan to use slow bouncers has backfired, as Jitesh and Livingstone tore into Jamieson for 23 runs in the 17th over. But just when RCB looked unstoppable, Jamieson got his man — Livingstone departs, and the momentum dips again. With Romario Shepherd walking in, the next couple of overs will decide RCB’s fate. After 17 overs, RCB are 168/5.

The middle-order batter lit up the middle overs with a stunning knock against Lucknow Super Giants earlier and is showing great form tonight too, scoring briskly to keep RCB’s hopes alive. After 16 overs, RCB are 145/4.

After a calm and calculated knock, Virat Kohli’s stay in the IPL final came to an end. Afghan pacer Azmatullah Omarzai used a series of slow bouncers to disrupt Kohli’s rhythm before inducing a false pull, which he caught brilliantly at midwicket to be dismissed for 35-ball 43. RCB are now in trouble at 132/4 after 15 overs, managing just 7 runs in the over.

The pitch isn’t offering turn but is starting to play a bit tacky — making timing tricky. Still, Kohli and Livingstone finally took the fight to Punjab’s best bowler, Yuzvendra Chahal, taking 14 runs off his third over. It’s the injection of momentum RCB badly needed as they gear up for the final push. After 14 overs, RCB are 125/3.

RCB are playing into Punjab’s hands. Kohli (35 off 29) continues to play it safe, while Livingstone is yet to find his timing. Despite a pitch described as full of runs, the scoring rate has dipped to 8.5 an over, and the pressure is mounting. With just seven overs left, RCB need a big push — and it may be up to Livingstone to flip the switch. After 13 overs, RCB are 111/3.

Virat Kohli is unbeaten on 32 off 26 balls, but the question is whether RCB’s talisman is scoring quickly enough. The last five overs have yielded just 38 runs — a rate far below what’s needed for a strong finish. With wickets in hand, RCB need to shift gears fast or risk falling short of a par total. After 12 overs, RCB are 103/3.

Kyle Jamieson has once again broken a threatening partnership, trapping Rajat Patidar LBW just as RCB looked to shift gears. The wicket halts the momentum, and with the score reading 97/3 after 11 overs, RCB need a strong finish. Liam Livingstone, who has had a quiet IPL so far, now has a chance to explode and dismantle Punjab’s bowling at the death.

The Punjab pacers have slowed things down with clever bouncers and off-pace deliveries, denying the batters room and rhythm. But with wickets in hand, RCB will back themselves to hit overdrive soon and push the total towards the 200-mark.

At the halfway stage, RCB are 87/2.

As expected, Rajat Patidar didn’t let Yuzvendra Chahal settle in. Known for his prowess against spin, Patidar took the attack to his former teammate — smashing 11 off Chahal’s second over to release some of the pressure.

It’s a crucial phase. Disrupting Chahal’s rhythm could go a long way in giving RCB control of the middle overs.

After 9 overs, RCB are 80/2. Kohli is on 21, Patidar on 17 — and the intent from the skipper suggests he’s chasing a target only he can see.

RCB have hit a bit of a lull. The early aggression has fizzled out after two quick wickets, and the momentum they were building has clearly been checked.

With Rajat Patidar still settling in and Virat Kohli anchoring cautiously, RCB need someone to shift gears — and it’ll likely have to be the captain himself.

After 8 overs, RCB are 69/2.

Yuzvendra Chahal, the wily veteran, was always going to be Punjab’s trump card — and he's delivered right away. The leg-spinner got the better of the aggressive Mayank Agarwal, who looked set to do serious damage.

It’s a sweet moment for the 34-year-old against his former franchise, and a timely strike for Punjab.

After 7 overs, RCB are 65/2 — with Kohli still at the crease, anchoring the innings.

Mayank Agarwal is playing his role to perfection — the aggressor in this partnership. The introduction of state-mate Vijaykumar Vyshak gave him the opening, and he didn’t hesitate to cash in.

Agarwal races to 24 off 17, while Kohli continues to rotate strike, keeping the scoreboard ticking.

After 6 overs, RCB are 55/1, building nicely after the Powerplay.

Five overs down, and both teams are shaking off the nerves, settling into their rhythm. But for Virat Kohli, there’s no sign of jitters — just laser focus.

Alongside Mayank Agarwal, he’s steadily guided RCB to 46/1 after 5 overs, setting a solid platform for what’s to come.

RCB aren’t slowing down, cruising steadily at a good clip. But one thing’s clear — Kohli and Agarwal aren’t going all out just yet. They’re pacing themselves perfectly, ready to shift gears when the moment calls.

After 4 overs, RCB stand at 39/1, balancing aggression with caution.

It wasn’t the ideal start for RCB, but Mayank Agarwal has stepped up instantly, picking up the tempo where Salt left off. The run rate is still healthy at 10 an over, and Virat Kohli is settling in for the long haul.

The RCB talisman looks composed, reading the situation and rotating strike smartly — classic Kohli in a big game.

After 3 overs, RCB are 30/1 and rebuilding with purpose.

Kyle Jamieson, RCB’s nemesis in Qualifier 2, has done it again — hitting the right lengths and applying early pressure. The big Kiwi gets the breakthrough as Phil Salt miscues a straight drive, and Shreyas Iyer takes a sharp catch at mid-off.

It’s the early wicket Punjab were desperate for.

After 2 overs, RCB are 19/1 — and the final just got spicier.

Virat Kohli and Phil Salt have been the backbone of RCB’s batting this season — a duo that thrives on complementing each other and hunting in tandem. And they’ve walked into the IPL final with the same blueprint.

Salt attacks, Kohli anchors — and the plan is already in motion.

The pitch looks a belter, the ball’s coming on nicely, and the short boundaries in Ahmedabad are a batter’s dream. RCB have raced to 14 off the first over from Arshdeep Singh, setting the tone early in this high-stakes clash.

Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer has made a bold call — choosing to bowl first after winning the toss in the IPL 2025 final. It’s a move shaped, perhaps, by his own successful chase at the same Ahmedabad venue against Mumbai Indians last Sunday.

The threat of rain may also have played into the decision, but with Punjab’s inexperienced middle-order, has Shreyas taken a gamble too far?

All eyes now turn to Virat Kohli, the man for the big occasion. If he gets going and anchors RCB deep into the innings, this final might tilt heavily in Bengaluru’s favour.

Both teams have gone in unchanged from their previous matches.